Sight for firearms



Och 1938- H. F. MOSSBERG SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Filed Nov. 30, 1957 INVENTORHamldEMawberg. 7% W ATTORNEY UN. illij i hUi' fitN IS Patented Oct. 11,1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Application November30, 1937, Serial No. 177,233

5 Claims.

This invention relates to sights for firearms and more particularly to aramp front sight having a plurality of differently shaped sight postsadapted to be readily and selectively positioned for sighting purposes.

It is desirable that firearms be provided with quickly and readilyinterchangeable and differently shaped front sight posts and that thenecessity of carrying these different posts separated from the firearmsbe avoided. Front sights have been provided with a connected pair ofdifierently formed sight posts mounted on and arranged to swinglengthwise of, the firearm to dispose either of them in sightingposition. Such sights were limited to two different forms of sight postsand required replacement to provide any form of post other than thesetwo. It is contemplated, as one object of this invention, to provide asight for a firearm which has more than two difierently shaped posts andwherein any one of these posts may be selectively and readily disposedin sighting position.

Among the other objects of this invention are; the provision in a sightfor a firearm of a plurality of differently shaped sight posts, each ofwhich is individually movable into sighting position; means to locateand retain the selected and positioned sight post in position; a readilyremovable hood to cover the selected and positioned sight post and toretain those not so positioned out of sighting position; and a commonsupporting means for the plurality of sight posts.

A further object is to provide an improved sight for a firearm, which isrelatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, compact,of pleasing appearance, and very efiicient and durable in use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, there has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied inpractice.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view of a firearm or gun having a ramp front sightembodying the features and principles of this invention associatedtherewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the sight shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front end view of the same;

Figure 4 is a still further enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail front face views of the sight postsadapted for use with the sight of this invention.

The sight I l of this invention commonly known as a ramp front sight isshown, in Figure 1, mounted on the forward end of the barrel l2, of abolt action gun l3, in position for use in sighting the same incooperation with the usual rear sight l4. The sight II is provided witha base block I5 secured to the barrel l2 by means of a dovetail plate l6wedged into a corresponding dovetail slot I 1 formed in the barrel l2,and a screw 18 passing through the base block l5 and threading into theplate I 6, see Figure 4. The underside of the base block I5 is groovedlengthwise to fit the curvature of the barrel I2 and to insure that itwill firmly seat thereon when it is clamped thereto by the cooperatingscrew l8 and plate l6.

A cylindrically shaped hood I9 is provided to cover the sight post ofthis sight and has a lengthwise slot formed in its bottom surface havingopposing parallel edges 2! and 22 which are adapted to enter and slidein corresponding grooves 23 and 24 respectively. The grooves 23 and 24are provided one on either side of the base block l5 adjacent its uppersurface. At the forward end of the hood l9, opposing fingers or lugs 25and 26 are provided, being formed, for instance, by narrowing the slotat this point. The fingers 25 and 26 act as stops to limit the rearwardmovement of the hood l9 by engaging the forward end of the base blockl5. The hood l9 may be readily moved forwardly to remove it from thebase block l5 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, for a purpose to behereinafter described.

A plurality of sight posts 2'l, 28, 29, and 3|, shown respectively inFigures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are provided, each having a different sightingshape at its upper end, a hole 32 in its base portion 33, and a concavegroove 34 formed in the bottom end surface of the base portion 33 whichgroove 34 forms spaced apart points 35 and 36. The posts 21, 28, 29 and3! are arranged in face to face abutting relation and are pivotallymounted upon an extending end 3'! of a screw 38 which threads into theforward end of the base block l5, see Figure 4. The end 31 of the screw38 is passed through the hole 32 in each of the posts and extends beyondthem to enter a hole 39 formed as a continuation of the threaded opening40 in the base block 15 into which the screw 38 threads. The base blockI5 is provided with a transversely directed slot 4|, disposedsubstantially at right angles to the hole 39 and in which the baseportions 33 of the posts are disposed. A coiled spring 42 is disposed inthe hole 39 and reacts between its bottom and the first of the post baseportions 33 to press them together and against a shoulder 43 formed atthe end of the threaded portion 44 of the screw 38.

A leaf spring 45, having its forward end 46 turned upwardly and clampedbetween the forward end of the base block I5 and the head 41 of thescrew 38, extendsrearwardly of the block I5, in a lengthwise slot 48formed therein, into a position in under the posts 2'I-3I inclusive toresiliently engage the points 35 and 36 of the selected sight post tolocate and firmly maintain it in sighting position. When a selectedsight post is so positioned and firmly maintained in position by theleaf spring 45, the other posts are disposed in a downwardly andangularly disposed position, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, and areprevented from being swung into an upright position by the respectiveover-hanging edge 2 I, or 22, of the hood I9 and also prevented frominadvertently swinging upwardly into position by engagement of the leafspring 45 with the adjacent side of the base portion 33.

When it is desired to change from one of the sight posts to another, thehood I9 is moved forwardly of the base block I5 to remove it therefromand the selected sight post is swung transversely of the base block I5upon the extending end 31 into an upright position, wherein the points35 and 36 thereof will be engaged by the leaf spring 45 to locate andhold it in sighting position. The sight post replaced by the selectedone will be swung transversely of the block I5 and downwardly to oneside of the block I5 into either position of the sight posts 28 and 3Iin Figure 3. Replacement of the hood I9, with its stop fingers 25 and 26abutting the forward end of the block I5, will retain the downwardlyswung sight posts against being swung into an upright position and formsa hood over the selected upright one.

While there has been illustrated and described above a specific form ofsight embodying the features and principles of this invention it will beunderstood that the same may be embodied in other forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. It istherefor desired that the present embodiment be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be furtherunderstood that each and every novel feature and combination thereofpresent in, or possessed by, the device herein disclosed, forms a partof the invention included in this application.

What is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure LettersPatent, is:

1. A front sight for a firearm having a barrel, said sight comprising abase block seated on and extending along the barrel of said firearm,means to detachably clamp said block to the barrel, said block having across-slot formed therein, a plurality of juxtaposed differently shape-dsight posts arranged one in back of the other with their lower endportions in the cross-slot in said block and being swingable into anupright position, each of said posts having a concave groove formed inits lower end surface to provide spaced apart points thereon, a leafspring extending lengthwise of said block beneath the posts and havingan end portion turned upwardly over an end of said block, a screw memberthreadingly disposed in said block and having a portion extendingthrough said posts to form a pivot pin therefore and a head portion toengage the upwardly turned end of said leaf spring to clamp it to saidblock end, said leaf spring being bowed upwardly to engage the points onsaid posts to firmly hold the selected post in upright position.

'2. A front sight for a firearm having a barrel, said sight comprising abase block seated on the barrel of the firearm and extending along thesame, means to detachably clamp said block to the barrel, said blockhaving a cross-slot formed therein, a plurality of juxtaposeddifferently shaped sight posts arranged one in back of the other withtheir lower end portions in the crossslot in said block and beingswingable into an upright position, a pivot pin extending lengthwise ofsaid block and through the lower end of each of said posts, a springcoiled about said pin and reacting between said block and. said posts topress the posts together, and a leaf spring extending lengthwise of saidblock beneath the posts and between the block and the barrel of thefirearm, said leaf spring being bowed upwardly intermediate its ends toreact between the lower end of a selected post and the barrel of thefirearm to hold the selected post in upright position.

3. In a sight for a firearm, a base block, a plurality of individuallyswinging sight posts, a common leaf spring having a portion extendingbeneath said posts and adapted to act against the lower end of anyselected one thereof to retain it in sighting position and a portionbent upwardly over the end of said base, and a screw threaded into saidbase and having an extension upon which said sight posts are pivoted andalso having a headed portion to clamp the bent up portion of said leafspring against the end of said base.

4. In a sight for a firearm, a base block, a plurality of juxtaposedsight posts swingable crosswise of said base block to either sidethereof, a common leaf spring having a portion extending beneath saidposts and adapted to act against the lower end of any selected onethereof to retain it in sighting position, a common pivot member forsaid posts extending lengthwise of said base block, and a springreacting between said block and said posts to press said posts togetheraxially with respect to said pivot member.

5. In a sight for a firearm, a base block, a plu rality of sight posts,a pivot pin upon which said posts are mounted one in back of the other,said pin being mounted in said block with its axis extending parallel tothe axis of the barrel of the firearm, said posts being swingable onsaid pin from a horizontal position at one side of said pin laterallyacross said block through an arc of 180 degrees to a horizontal positionat the other side of said pin, each post having a sight portion on itsupper end, and a fiat leaf spring secured to said block and extendinglengthwise along the barrel of the firearm below said posts, said springbeing bowed upwardly intermediate its ends, and common means to securesaid base block to the barrel of a firearm and to press said leaf springagainst the barrel to tension the spring and cause it to react betweenthe barrel and the lower end of said posts and thereby engage the lowerend of a selected post when the selected post is in a vertical positionto hold it in such position.

HAROLD F. MOSSBERG.

